Oulanka National Park Trails

Two hikers stand high on a rocky plateau and look at the river valley.

You can explore the gorgeous national landscape of the Oulanka National Park on foot, by canoe, by bike, on skis or by snowshoes. The national park offers excellent hiking opportunities, ranging from short day-trip trails to the 82-km-long Karhunkierros Trail, which is one of the most popular hiking trails in Finland.  

Choose the trail that suits you best and hike to the gushing rapids, the beautiful flood meadows, the winter forests and the rugged landscape. Discover your own Oulanka!

Oulanka National Park Map © Parks and Wildlife Finland

Easy Trails
 

Könkään kuohu Trail, 100 m / each way, accessible to all

There are eight hikers sitting around the campfire site. Two of the hikers are in a wheelchair.

Available when the ground is unfrozen (June-September). No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 15 minutes
Category: easy Accessible nature trail. accessible nature trail / wheelchair trail
Starting point: The parking area for the Könkään kuohu Trail. No winter maintenance.
Description of the Könkään kuohu Trail

 

Napapiirin nopia Trail, 500 m each way

The picture shows a hiker sitting in a wheelchair at the starting point of the route. The gate above the route reads TERVETULOA WELCOME KARHUNKIERROS

Available when the ground is unfrozen (June‒September). No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 30 minutes‒1 hour.
Category: easy Accessible nature trail. accessible nature trail / wheelchair trail
Starting point: The starting point for the Karhunkierros Trail at Hautajärvi. The trail is part of Karhunkierros.
Description of the Napapiirin nopia Trail


Kiutaköngäs Trail, 1 km each way

Hikers at the intersection of routes. Some of them are watching the signs.

Available all year round. No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 1 hour
Category: easy
Starting point: Oulanka Visitor Centre
Description of the Kiutaköngäs Trail 

 

Other Hiking Trails, under 10 km 

 

Hiiden hurmos Trail, 5 km, Circle Trail

Yellow paint marking on a tree trunk. In the background, the path and the forest are dimly visible.

Available all year round. In winter snowshoes might be needed. No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 2‒3 hours
Category:  intermediate
Starting point: Oulanka Visitor Centre
Description of the Hiiden hurmos Trail

 

Rytikönkään reissu trail, 5‒7 km, Circle Trail

The summer swamp has an old barn. There is a pond in the foreground.

Available when the ground is unfrozen (June‒October). No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 2-3 hours
Category:  easy
Starting point: The parking area of the Oulanka Camping Ground (no winter maintenance). You can also leave your car to the parking area of Oulanka Visitor Centre. 
Description of the Rytikönkään reissu Trail

 

Kanjonin kurkkaus Trail, 6 km, Circle Trail

Two hikers stand high on a rocky plateau and look at the river valley.

Available when the ground is unfrozen (June‒October). No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 2‒3 hours
Category:  intermediate
Starting point: The Savilampi parking area at the end of a forest road that branches off from Teeriahontie Road (no winter maintenance). 
Description of the Kanjonin kurkkaus Trail

 

Könkään keino Trail, 8 km, Circle Trail

A photo taken from the top of the slope, with a summer bend in the river below.

Available when the ground is unfrozen. No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 3‒4 hours
Category:  easy  intermediate
Starting point: Oulanka Visitor Centre
Description of the Könkään keino Trail

 

Other Hiking Trails, over 10 km 

 

Pieni Karhunkierros Trail, 12 km, Circle Trail

A summer river backwater with a long suspension bridge over it. Hikers walk at the other end of the bridge.

Available all year round. In winter snowshoes might be needed. No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 4‒6 hours
Category:  intermediate
Starting point: Village of Juuma (Juumantie 133, Kuusamo)
Description of The Pieni Karhunkierros
 

Keroharjun kuiskaus Trail, 17 km each way

Three wooden guide signs as a group. They read NIITSELYSJOKI, KEROHARJU TRAIL and KEROHARJU HUT.

Available when the ground is unfrozen (June‒September). No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 1 day
Category:  intermediate
Starting and ending points: Harjulammentie Road at Liikasenvaara (no winter maintenance) and Niitselyksentie Road at Hautajärvi. The River Niitselysjoki is crossed by using a cable boat.
Description of the Keroharjun kuiskaus Trail

 

Karhunkierros Trail, 82 km each way

Hikers with rucksacks on their backs run along the route in the middle of a summer forest.

Available when the ground is unfrozen (June‒October). No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 4 days
Category:  intermediate
Starting point: Several starting points (Hautajärvi, Ristikallio/Sallantie Road, Juuma, Ruka)
Website of the Karhunkierros Trail

 

Canoeing Routes

 

Mataraniemi – Jäkälämutka, 25 km

A kayaker in the middle of a river. There is a tall sandy riverbank in the background with coniferous forest growing on top.

Available during the period of unfrozen waters (June‒October). Suitable for beginners and families with children.
Travel time: 5‒7 hours
Category:  easy
Starting point: The parking area for the Könkään kuohu Trail, Mataraniemi
Trail description: Canoeing Route Mataraniemi – Jäkälämutka

 

Savilampi – Oulanka Visitor Centre, 13 km

Two adults and a child in a canoe in the middle of a river bordered by a summer forest.

Available during the period of unfrozen waters (June‒October). Suitable for experienced canoeists.
Travel time: 2‒4 hours
Category:  intermediate  demanding
Rapids scale:  I‒IV
Starting point: The Savilampi parking area, on the border of Salla and Kuusamo, at the end of a forest road.
Trail description: Canoeing Route Savilampi ‒ Oulanka Visitor Centre

 

Biking Trails

 

Oulanka Visitor Centre - Taivalköngäs, 9 km each way

A hiker holds a smartphone in the summer in Oulanka National Park. In the foreground, blooming wild flowers. The smartphone screen shows a picture of the flower and the rapids landscape.

Available when the ground is unfrozen (June‒October). No winter maintenance.
Travel time: 3‒4 hours
Category:  demanding
Starting point: Oulanka Visitor Centre
Description of the Biking Trail

 

Oulanka Wilderness Trail: Oulanka Visitor Centre ‒ Juuma, 26 km each way

A bike on a snowy wilderness route in the middle of the forest.

Available from mid-February to April
Travel time: 4 hours ‒ 1 day
Category: Demanding trail demanding
Starting point: Oulanka Visitor Centre or Juuma
Description of the Oulanka Wilderness Trail

 

Skiing Trails

 

Oulanka Wilderness Trail, 26 km each way

The snowshoeer stopped to look at the photographer behind him. Mire landscape opens up in the middle of the forest.

Available from mid-February to April
Travel time: 1‒2 days
Category:  demanding
Starting point: Oulanka Visitor Centre or Juuma
Description of the Oulanka Wilderness Trail

 

Snowshoe Trails

 

Hiiden hurmos Trail, 5 km / Circle Trail

The picture shows spruce branches in the foreground, two hikers out of focus in the background.

This trail is a hiking trail in summer and a snowshoe trail in winter
Travel time: 2‒3 hours
Category:  intermediate
Starting point: Oulanka Visitor Centre
Trail description: Hiiden hurmos Trail

 

Pieni Karhunkierros Trail, 12 km / Circle Trail

An adult and a child stand on a suspension bridge in a winter landscape. The river below is partially melted.

This trail is a hiking trail in summer and a snowshoe trail in winter
Travel time: 4‒6 hours
Category:  intermediate
Starting point: Juuma (Juumantie 133, Kuusamo)
Description of the Pieni Karhunkierros Trail 

 

Oulanka Wilderness Trail, 26 km each way

Three snowshoeers walk the route in the winter forest.

Available from mid-February to April
Travel time: 1‒2 days
Category:  demanding
Starting point: Oulanka Visitor Centre or Juuma
Description of the Oulanka Wilderness Trail

 

Other Hiking Trails close to Oulanka and Ruka

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